Celebrate the Achievements of Arab-Americans in Media: The 2015 Jack G. Shaheen Awards

35 Years ADC National Convention 

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | May 22, 2015-The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) invites you to join us in celebrating the achievements of Arab-Americans as they receive the 2015 Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Awards.

The purpose of the annual Jack Shaheen Awards is to honor Arab-American’s who excel in media studies, including journalism, radio, television, and/or film.

Dr. Jack Shaheen will present this year’s awards on the evening of Friday, June 12, 2015 at ADC’s 35th Anniversary National Convention in Washington, DC.

The recipients of the 18th Annual Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Awards are:

Anisa Mehdi

Outstanding Achievement in Media Award

Sarah Shihadah

Jack Shaheen Scholarship Award

jack shaheenDr. Shaheen is an internationally recognized author and media critic who wrote the award-winning book and film, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. He has consulted with the United Nations and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and has been featured on numerous national network programs such as National Public Radio, CNN, MSNBC and The Today Show.

About the Awardees:

Anisa Mehdi, “Outstanding Achievement in Media Award”

Anisa Mehdi is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and writer specializing in religion and the arts. She is the founder and president of Whetstone Productions and is a Professor of Communications at Seton Hall University where she lectures on Islam in the media, Muslim women, and on reporting religion.

Her main focus when producing programs and documentaries are around religion. Her most notable documentary, which was produced by National Geographic, is called Inside Mecca. The documentary was the first time National Geographic had produced anything on Islam and it is based on Mehdi’s perception of life as a journey. In addition to making films, Mehdi consults to the Doris Foundation for Islamic Art and to the US Department of State. She was a 2009-2010 Fullbright Scholar in Amman, Jordan where she mentored and advised aspiring filmmakers.

Mehdi’s commentaries have been featured in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune and Aziah magazines. She is currently working on a new documentary about Muslim and Christian young people in Algeria working together for peace.

Sarah Shihadah, “Jack Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship Award”

Sarah Aziza Shihadah is a writer and free-lance journalist specializing in Middle East and social justice issues. Shihadah graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Near East Languages and Civilizations (Modern Arabic and Hebrew studies), and Comparative Literature. Throughout her time at Penn, Shihadah was greatly involved in Penn for Palestine and served as President of the organization beginning in 2011. In 2012, as president of Penn for Palestine, Shihadah, along with the rest of the Penn for Palestine members, hosted the 2012 BDS Conference at University of Pennsylvania. Shihadah has traveled and worked widely throughout the Middle East and North Africa. As a Fulbright Scholar, she is currently working in Amman, Jordan as a full time teacher of college-aged students with UNRWA faculty.


 ADC’s 35th Anniversary  National Convention

ADC invites you to join us in Celebrating 35 years of commitment to civil rights (1980-2015) at this year’s ADC National Convention.

When: June 11th-14th, 2015

Where: Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel


Register now to save  $100 off the normal registration price!
  Click here to register online or call us at (202) 244-2990.

ADC has secured a block of hotel rooms at a Special Hotel Room rate of only $109! This special offer ends on May 29th, so don’t wait. Click here to reserve your hotel room today!

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